Read More

If you can update us, please get in touch - you can comment on this blog, tweet us , contact us on Facebook , or you can e-mail newsdesk@westgaz.co.uk or ring us on 01935 709734.

Want news straight to your phone? Somerset Live has launched a WhatsApp group to help you keep up to date with the latest news from across the county. If you'd like to receive breaking news alerts, text NEWS to 07834 893492. Then add the number to your phone contacts book as 'Somerset Live’. We will send you a maximum of four messages a day. Your phone number won't be shared with other members of the group or be used for any other purpose.

Plan at least half an hour extra...

Queueing traffic on tge A303 westbound. The road is partially blocked due to broken down HGV on A303 Westbound between A36 (Deptford / Codford turn off) and A350.

(Image: Travel Somerset)

17:50

Crash now on the hard shoulder

Still very slow traffic on the M5 Southbound due to a crash, now on the hard shoulder on M5 Southbound between J20 B3133 ( Clevedon ) and J21 A370 / B3440 ( Weston-super-mare ). All lanes have been re-opened. Lane three (of three) re-opened at 5.40pm.

17:40

M5 southbound lane blocked

One lane is blocked on the M5 between Junction 20 (B3133 Clevedon) and Junction 21 (A370/B3440 Weston-super-Mare).

This is due to a crash.

Traffic is slow so take extra care and plan in extra time.

(Image: Highways England)

17:13KEY EVENT

Long delays on A303 at Chicklade

17:04

Crash on A39 near Bridgwater

Reports of slow traffic due to a crash on A39 Bath Road near Crancombe Lane.

This is on the A39 between Bridgwater and Street

16:59

M5 traffic

One lane closed and slow traffic due to lorry having a tyre changed on M5 Southbound between J21 A370 / B3440 ( Weston-super-mare ) and J22 A38 / B3140 ( Burnham-on-sea ). Lane one of three is currently closed.

16:50

Pensioner had card and £500 stolen

A 90-year-old Glastonbury woman had her debit cards stolen and £500 taken as she grieved for her husband and her son.

Joan Perry paid with her card in the café around noon and then when shopping. But as she went to pay at the check out, she realised her credit card and phone had been stolen out of her handbag.Read full story

Bill and Joan Perry are celebrating 70 years of marriage

15:56

Commercial fire in Taunton

Devon and Somerset Fire and rescue service received a call from a member of the public reporting alarms operating at a property in the above location.

One pump from Taunton was immediately mobilised by Fire Control.

On arrival the officer in charge confirmed alarms had been activated by a small fire in a pizza oven which was out on arrival and requested the attendance of a further pumping appliance with a positive pressure ventilation fan.

Crash near Wellington

Update on the Taunton crash

We’ve had a response from the South Western Ambulance Service regarding the crash near the Shepherd’s Rest in Taunton.

A spokesman said: “We were called at 8.39am to reports of a two-vehicle crash at the location. We attended with one ambulance.

“There were two patients, both of whom had minor injuries and were both treated at the scene.”

09:48

Crash near Ston Easton

We are getting reports of a crash in Ston Easton this morning.

The crash occurred within the last half hour on Langley’s Lane near Zion Hill.

One Wells resident, who did not wish to be names, said that she saw three police cars heading out of Wells towards the crash site.

More on this as it develops.

09:38

Rail disruption due to Waterloo fire

The new South Western rail franchise - which includes services between London and Exeter - has begun (Image: South Western Railway)

Somerset and Dorset residents heading up to London for Christmas shopping or events face further delays following yesterday’s fire near London Waterloo.

The fire, next to the line leading out of the station, caused damage to the signalling system and track circuit failures on three of the lines going to and from London - putting the first nine platforms out of action.

Network Rail engineers have been working through the night to bring the platforms back into use, with services being delayed, amended or cancelled.

But the problems have not yet been completely resolved, with delays expected to last well into the afternoon

Crash in Taunton

There are delays in Taunton this morning due to a crash near the Shepherds Rest pub.

The crash occurred on Galmington Road near the junction with Galmington Lane, just south of Musgrove Park Hospital.

Traffic is slow in the surrounding area, particularly east of the pub.

Motorists should avoid the area until further notice.

08:57KEY EVENT

'Black alert' at RUH in Bath

Viorica Dusmanescu who worked at Bath Royal United Hospital and is a registered nurse was charged by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) with not having necessary knowledge of English to practise safely and effectively

The Royal United Hospital in Bath declared a ‘black alert’ yesterday (December 11) as waiting times surged in A&E.

Staff were told in an email yesterday, seen by the Bath Chronicle, that an “internal significant incident” had been declared that morning and that the hospital was trying its utmost to “regain flow”.

The incident is believed to have been partially caused by a busy weekend, together with sustained pressure over the previous weeks.